Born in the Great Depression, and illuminated in recent decades by a bold ribbon of neon signage at a gateway to Red Bank, Rassas Pontiac both rode and symbolized the ever-rising fortunes of postwar America.

Round-shouldered sedans and coupes once crammed its showroom. Then muscle cars. Minivans. SUVs.

But now, the auto giants are in retrenchment. A few years back, General Motors scrapped the Pontiac line, leaving Rassas to switch over to Buick. Few car dealers can survive selling Buicks alone, said business owner Aaron Rassas: his is one of only two such shops in all of New Jersey, and 30 nationwide. But he failed in his efforts to land a second brand, as GM tries to right-size markets it considers overfranchised.

With that, and the approach of his 70th birthday, Rassas has decided to shut off the engine.

On April 26, after 83 years of selling new and used cars in Red Bank, Rassas Buick will go out of business.

An undated view of the Broad Street dealer lot. Below, Aaron Rassas with his most senior employee, auto-body man Sprat Clark of Shrewsbury. (Click to enlarge)

Rassas informed his staff of 19 employees last Thursday, and though there were signals that the end might be near, the news still landed with sadness. Many of those staffers have been on the lot for two decades or more. A joke around the lot is that “you either work here a week or two, or you work here 20 years,” Rassas told redbankgreen Wednesday.

“I’ve been coming here every day for 39 years,” said body shop manager Sprat Clark, 66, of Shrewsbury, whose father, Thomas, also worked at Rassas.

Aaron Rassas, of Rumson, said the business was founded by an uncle, Alex Rassas, who opened a showroom selling what was then the Oakland-Pontiac make of automobiles, at 21 Mechanic Street, in 1930. When Alex died in 1941, his brother Ben  Aaron’s father, who had been selling used cars in Eatontown  took over.

Ben bought the empty field at 395 Broad Street, facing the foot of Maple Avenue and next to a Mobil filling station, and built a new showroom in 1949. He later acquired the gas station property, now the used-car lot where perhaps a dozen remaining vehicles are displayed.

“Going out of business,” screams a paper sign facing the lot. “No reasonable offer will be refused.”

Aaron started working the showroom in 1964. His father stayed on, productive right up until his death in 2004, just a few days shy of his 95th birthday.

Rassas said he’s glad not to have been forced out of business, or to have failed, and to be able to wind things down on his own terms. He’s pleased that many of his employees have already gotten promises of work elsewhere. And sales are going strong, he said. As word of the closing has spread among customers, some of whom have been dealing with Rassas for decades, they’re coming in to kick the tires one more time and maybe drive one off the lot.

Still. “Sad? Of course,” Rassas said. “It has to be bittersweet. How could it not be? I’ve done this my whole life. It’s the only thing I’ve ever done.”

His wife of 44 years, Marge, has endured as he’s worked six days a week. Now that he’s retiring, his sole plans are to “drive my wife crazy” and visit his four daughters and four grandchildren, he said.

Rassas also plans to sell the one-acre lot, which is assessed on borough books at $2.15 million.

03.03 - Bubble Wrap Prints at MTPL Middletown Township Public Library invites ages 2 to 6 to help cover the tables in the Children's Activity Room in bubble wrap — then paint on the wrap, and make prints from the paint (remember to 'dress for mess')!

03.03 - One Night of Queen It's an 'amazingly accurate tribute' to the days when the late Freddie Mercury and company ruled the airwaves, starring Gary Mullen and The Works and featuring the greatest hits of Queen.

03.03 - TITLE IX AND CAMPUS ACTIVISM lecture at BCC As part of the Spring Lecture Series, Brookdale Community College welcomes civil rights activist Annie Clark, cofounder of the national advocacy group End Rape on Campus, for a discussion on the prevalence of sexual assaults at American colleges and how citizens can fight to stop them. Park in lots 6 or 7.

03.04 - Noble Writers at MTPL Middletown Township Public Library hosts a free weekly Wednesday morning meeting of the writing group for women, with all welcome to join and no registration required. A Writing Critiquing Group also meets every Wednesday evening at the library, 7 pm.

03.04 - GUADALUPE IN THE GUEST ROOM It's a world premiere from Two River Theater Company; an intimate play by Tony Meneses in which a Mexican woman’s daughter’s sudden death leaves the mother struggling to connect with her American son in law; looking past the cultural and language barriers to find common interest in the most unexpected places. Performances at 1 pm and 7 pm.

03.04 - Pottery Open House at Thompson Park Come to the park's Creative Arts Center; sample some hand building techniques and try your luck at the potter’s wheel in this free session. Open to ages 7 and up, under 18 with adult.

03.05 - Laugh at Lunch: Frangela Brookdale Community College Student Life and Activities hosts the 'pop cultural pundits' comedy team of Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton (Best Week Ever, Today Show, Showbiz Tonight and many other TV shows) in a lunchtime pitstop to the Warner Student Life Center on the Lincroft campus.

03.05 - Artists' Workshop The Red Bank Public Library hosts an informal monthly gathering with Artist in Residence Joe Bergholm, in which artists can 'find inspiration and motivation' in a space for creative people to draw and paint with others. No registration necessary; bring acrylics, pastels, watercolors, charcoal or pencils (no oils, please).

03.05 - GUADALUPE IN THE GUEST ROOM It's a world premiere from Two River Theater Company; an intimate play by Tony Meneses in which a Mexican woman’s daughter’s sudden death leaves the mother struggling to connect with her American son in law; looking past the cultural and language barriers to find common interest in the most unexpected places.

03.05 - Comedy Night Live at The Dub Chris Covert of Jersey Jokers presents the latest in a regular series of standup comedy Open Mics, in which some of the region's future stars (and ha ha hopefuls) are showcased upstairs at the Dublin House.

03.06 - First Friday Freestyle Art at MTPL Middletown Township Public Library invites grades K and up to a new program offered on the first Friday of the month for school age kids. Each month we'll experiment with a simple art concept. Space is limited; preregistration required.

03.06 - DREAMSCAPES AND SHAPED DREAMS Art Opening The Oyster Point Hotel hosts a reception for an exhibit of paintings (curated by Gerda Liebmann) by cousins Eileen and Lynne Kennedy. The artists will be present (and the public is welcome) during the reception from 7 to 9 pm, with the exhibit remaining on display in the first and second floor lobby areas through April 26.

03.06 - GUADALUPE IN THE GUEST ROOM It's a world premiere from Two River Theater Company; an intimate play by Tony Meneses in which a Mexican woman’s daughter’s sudden death leaves the mother struggling to connect with her American son in law; looking past the cultural and language barriers to find common interest in the most unexpected places.

03.06 - Burt Bacharach The master pop songwriter of the second half of the 20th century is still touring at the age of 86; returning to Red Bank with piano, orchestra, singers and a most awesome catalog of hits.

03.06 - Microsoft Word Discussion Group at MTPL Middletown Township Public Library hosts an introductory class on this entry—level desktop publishing application and create newsletters, brochures, cards, and more. Control page layout and design, and publish your own works.

03.06 - DIGGING THE WHOLE The Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center is the setting for a student production of the interactive family musical, in which the flora and fauna of the forest confront a slob who makes his new home in the middle of the woods.

03.07 - Open Shoot Archery at Thompson Park The homebase of the Monmouth County Parks System invites ages 8 and up (under 18 with adult) to try your hand at open shoot archery, with all equipment provided (no outside equipment permitted). Cash or check only; limited instruction provided to beginners.

03.07 - Drop—in Surprise Storytime at Deep Cut Gardens Join us for a free reading from a nature— or garden—related book at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. If the weather is nice, look for the clue at our entrance that leads to the secret spot in the gardens. If it’s rainy or cold, we’ll be inside the Horticultural Center.

03.07 - Middletown First Aid Squad at MTPL Middletown Township Public Library invites all ages to meet some of the township's volunteer emergency responders, with mini health screenings at 10 am, and a chance to learn about the First Aid Squad at 10:30.

03.07 - DIGGING THE WHOLE The Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center is the setting for a student production of the interactive family musical, in which the flora and fauna of the forest confront a slob who makes his new home in the middle of the woods. Performances at 11 am and 2 pm.